Grants: Opportunities, Deadlines, and Awards

Staff Reports

November 1st, 1998

December

Technology & Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is accepting applications in this special education program, which supports projects for preschool, elementary, and secondary school students with disabilities. Projects should describe a technology-based approach to improving literacy, access to and participation in the general curriculum, and accountability. The maximum award is $200,000 per year. ED estimates it will make 15 awards this year. The preferred method for requesting information is to fax your request to (202) 205-8717 or you can write to Grants & Contracts Services Team, 600 Independence Ave. SW, Room 3317, Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2641.

This program of the Commerce Departments National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) assists, through matching grants, in the

planning and construction of public telecommunications facilities. The

program has a Distance Learning category open to public school systems. Last year, NTIA awarded nearly $4 million to 12 distance learning projects. Winners included St. Clair County Intermediate School District in Michigan, which was given $430,000 to purchase equipment for video classrooms in 11 schools, a vocational education center, and a local community college.

GIFT is a grant program for public and private school math and science teachers, grades 7-12, in 35 eligible states and the District of Columbia. Every year, the GTE Foundation awards $12,000 GIFT grants to 60 teams consisting of one math and one science teacher who plan to integrate the two subjects in their school curriculum through the use of technology. Each winning team receives $7,000 for a school enrichment project and $5,000 toward professional development activities.

The National Science Foundation awards these two-year grants of approximately $15,000 to K-12 schools, libraries, and museums that support innovative technologies for internet access. Only highly innovative approaches that can accelerate network development at similar institutions will be considered for funding. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact an NSF program officer to discuss their proposals to see if it falls within the current scope of the program.

AOL is launching an Interactive Education Grants program under its newly created AOL Foundation. Open to K-12 teachers, education leaders, parents, and other community leaders, the grants will be awarded to those who develop innovative and creative ways to enhance student learning through the online medium. Special emphasis will be placed on proposals that reach socio-economically disadvantaged children and communities. For more information, contact Jill Stephens, corporate outreach director, or eMail Deadline:Feb.1

Ameritech donated $3.2 million to K-12 schools in 1997. Through its SuperSchool program, the company supports projects that help school leaders learn how to use technology in their schools. It also funds alliances among schools so they may benefit from telecommunications technologies they otherwise couldn’t afford. Ameritech awards are limited to schools in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

The AT&T Foundation supports school programs that use technology to enhance teaching and learning. Grants are available to all accredited public and private elementary and secondary schools. The grants must fund the use and application of technology, not the equipment and infrastructure necessary to support its use. AT&T is interested in projects that target family involvement, professional development, lifelong learning, and community collaboration. Applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal based on brief, preliminary pre-proposals.

Digital Equipment Corp. seeks to promote academic excellence through the accessibility of technology in the classroom. Digital provides cash or equipment grants to schools that can demonstrate a special need or an innovative use for the assistance. You are encouraged to call the Corporate Contributions office to discuss your project or contact the office by eMail, contribution@digital.com.

The Eaton Corp. Foundation funds projects that prepare minority youths for employment, particularly projects that focus on math, science, and technology careers. Grants range from $1,000 to $25,000, with more than $1 million awarded last year. Schools and nonprofits are eligible, but the foundation restricts its giving to the 30 states with company operations. Call for application guidelines.

(216) 523-5000

Great Asante

This is a relatively new program that awards free computer networks to schools. Grants worth up to $14,000 provide all the hardware and software necessary to network 50 school computers. Application guidelines are available at the web site.

Hewlett-Packard makes cash or equipment donations for model programs supporting national K-12 math and science initiatives. HP’s Contributions Board makes quarterly funding decisions. Preference is given to projects that are national in scope, can be replicated nationally, or are located in communities where HP has a corporate facility. Applicants must submit a proposal summary form (available on the web site) and five-page narrative.

Intel funds programs that advance math, science, or technology education, promote science careers among women and underrepresented minorities, or increase public understanding of technology and its impact. National grants apply to nationwide projects or pilots for national programs. Community grants apply to projects located in a community where Intel has a major facility: Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, or Washington. An application is available at the web site.

Grants from $1,000 to $10,000 that focus on enhancing math, science, and technology opportunities for minorities and the economically disadvantaged are available from the Motorola Foundation. Contact Program Manager, Motorola Foundation, 1303 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg, IL 60196.

(708) 576-6200

Pfizer Education Initiative

Although the Pfizer Foundation is primarily concerned with health care, you might be able to slip in through an education program called Utilizing New Technology. Grants of up to $10,000 are given for teacher training or the application of technology in K-12 math and science classrooms. Applications may be submitted any time.

Don Forsythe, a Sprint Foundation program officer, said a limited number of grants would be available for projects in areas with a significant employee presence, primarily Kansas City, Atlanta, Dallas, and Sacramento. The Sprint Foundation supports projects that foster school reform through the use of new technologies and communications media and through fresh approaches to the enhancement of teacher skills. Schools and other education-related nonprofit agencies may apply for grants totaling about $500,000 per year. Call to talk to a program officer first or check out Sprint’s web site for application guidelines.

For the Link-to-Learn initiative, which aims to expand the use of technology in Pennsylvania’s classrooms, $36.3 million to 573 state districts and vocational schools. The grants include $2 million earmarked for year 2000 assessment and compliance projects.

For the federal Distance Learning and Telemedicine program, $16 million in grants and loans to 60 rural organizations throughout the United States. Thirty-five schools and learning centers received more than $10 million to fund telecommunications and distance learning projects.

For the National Educator Awards, which recognize outstanding public school educators, cash awards of $25,000 each to 160 educators in 38 states. Many winners were singled out for their use of technology in classrooms. In a separate donation, the Milken Foundation also awarded Educator Network Grants to the California, Indiana, and Massachusetts Departments of Education for various technology projects.

For the Interactive Education Initiative, which encourages innovative use of technology in K-12 education, more than $376,000 to 54 schools and learning centers in 23 states. Recipients also receive technical assistance and free AOL accounts from the foundation.

For the Internet Innovator Awards, which recognize effective use of the internet in the classroom, $10,000 each to 11 teachers from California, Texas, and Maine, and $20,000 to each teacher’s school. Next year’s awards will be presented in September and teachers may apply through April 2.

For the EDS Technology Grant program, which helps teachers of children ages 6 to 12 purchase information technology products and services, $240,000 to 160 elementary school teachers worldwide. The grants must be used to pay for technology products, training, or services not provided by the teachers’ schools or districts.